Machine for dressing edges of metal sheets and the like



June 6,1944.' w, F, sPAHR 2,350,648

MACHINE FOR DRESSING EDGES OF METAL SHEETS AND THE LIKE I Filed Jan. 2. 194s s sheets-sheet; 1

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June 6, 1944. w, F, S'PAHR 2,350,648

MACHINE FOR DRESSING EDGES OF METAL SHEETS AND THEvLIKE Filed Jan. 2, 1945 y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1944. wi F, SPAHR 2,350,548

MACHINE'FOR DRESSING EDGES OF METAL SHEETS AND THE LI-KE Filed Jan, 2, 194s s sheets-sheet s Patented June 6, 1944 'r 'oFFlcEf MACHINE FOR DRESSINGYEDGES OF METAL SHEETS AND LIKE Y i William F. Spahr, New Orleans, La.

- Application `Ianuary 2, 1943, Serial No. 471,198 7 Claims. (citi- 128) This invention relates to grinding or cleaning machines for sheet metal and analogous material, and particularly to grinding machines for cleaning or conditioning the edges of metal sheets preparatory to the Welding operation. A In grinding or cleaning the edges oi sheet metal for certain types of welding machines, as for example a so-called stitch welder, it is desirable that the edge be ground evenly and thoroughlywithout burning the metal. Since the edge to be ground is usually relatively thin and the sheet is naturally iiexible, the problem becomes more diilicult than where relatively thick and'more or less rigid material is involved.

An object of the present invention is to provideV a grinding or cleaning machine for sheet metal to .place the same in condition for welding which -willfunction to produce athoroughly cleaned or ground edge devoid of low spots or pits and-without burning the sheet, and which at the same time is loi relatively simple construction and easy to operate.

Another object is to provide a machine of the type specified which will perform its work accurately with a minimum of manual attention and at the same time be capable of producing atmaximulm speed Without sacrificing in any manner thequality of the work.

A further object is to generally improve and simplify machines of this type.

' The foregoing and other objects and advantages .of my improved grinding and cleaning machine will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. ,2, a plan* view of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3, `a; section rtaken on the line Fig..2

- Referring tothe drawings-in detail; vthe maf chine comprises a table I Awhichis supported by suitable framework including vertical legs II and horizontal cross members IIa and IIb.

'I'he'table is preferably vformed-witha centralf recess orVA Well l e' I2 permitting -1 an attendant or l attendants to more readilyfhandlethe sheets which arefed to -the machine;` #The opposite side `edges of the table fare provided with en# FigA, .a detaiieaperspective of the rmmmting -40 trance guides I3 and I3' and additional iinal guides andwear strips I4, I4 and which latter guides determine the position of the edge of the sheet as it is engaged by the grinding wheel.

'lne machine `herein disclosed has two grinding units, one at each side of the'table I0, and since these machines are of similar construction, a description of one will suiiice ,for both.

Eacn edge grinding or cleaningv unit comprises a grinding head or stoneJ I5, vnote particularly rig. 5,4 which is of deeply dished or cup-shaped contour, the peripheral vertical wall or the head or stone beingrof substantially uniiorm thickness from its loweredge to the point where it merges with the upperzhorizontal wall o1' the stone. Thus, lthe stone will grind a denite area or edge Vportion of the sheet as the grinding edge wears down. Also; this construction of the head tends towards maximum life with a amount of material, the head being adjustable vertically and-also arcuately, as will be presently described.

The grinding head or stone I5 is secured on the lower end of a shaft I6 by means of a backing member Il and nut I8. rotatably mounted in bearings I9 and I9 secured to T-shaped brackets 20, note particularly Fig. 4, which are formed on the `outer edge of a vertical flange projecting outwardly from a bolting-on vplaI.eA-2Il,fthe` latter being secured on the upper portion of a plate-shaped bracket 2I which'also hasfmounted thereon a driving motor 22. The drive is transmitted Yfrom the motor to the grinding head through a pulley 23 secured on the upper end' of the armature shaft 24 of the motor, the said'pulley being of the double grooved type and having trained thereover'V-belts 25 which are also ltrained over a pulley 26 secured on the upper extremity of the shaft I6. 'Ihe bracket 2|v which carries the driving motor 22 and grinding head I5 is mounted'for,

vertical adjustment on Aa main supporting bracket 2l, the latter being formed with a dovetail guide boss 21 and the plate 2|' being formed with a dove-tailA groove or guideway slidably' receiving'saidN boss; not@` vparticularly Figs'. 2 and 4, the said bracket 2,'I`in turn being mounted for `arcuate adjustment on a web 28y projecting outwardly from a mainV supporting bracketV 28 in a1 vmanner to be more fully described. I The upper edge portion of Vth'eplate 2l (and the guide boss 21 are respectively formedwith ,bearing lugs 29 and .30 through which a screw vthreaded shaft 3| projects and has secured on The shaft I6 isA 35 projecting from the web 28. 'I'he plate 21 is formed with an additional arcuate slot 36 through which an abutment 31 formed on the web 2,8'A projects. Screw threaded lugs 38 are also formed on the plate 21 and are adaptedhto receive arl--v means of the hand wheel 32 until its grinding surface is just clear of the pressure pad or anvil, whereupon the said wheel 32 is locked in position and the machine is ready to receive sheets to be ground. Sheets for which the machine is primarily adapted have the edges ground on one side only, as in the manufacture of metal barrels or drums. The machine has demonstrated its ability to grind the edges of sheets smoothly, accurately and evenly without burning or otherwise damaging the metal; itis of relatively simple construction and will operate indenitely with a *minimum of manual attention. When the grinding stone wears to the extreme upper portion justing screws 39 which are adjustableagainst the abutment 31 and whereby bracket 21 together with the plate 2l and parts carried thereby may be adjusted arcuately as desired. l"It` vv'il1 thus be kseen that'the grinding YStone i5 maybfa'djusted'vrtically'by'hand wheel 32 to compensate for wear andt'o "also accurately posi# tionthe" stone'with respect t`o the sheet to be ground,`and'thestone'may also betiltedor acijusted arcuatelyby' 'meansfof* screws 39: not only to" c'oi'cnfpensateV for'wear butto also denitely locate the` grinding vedge fof the'st'on'ev with respect tofth'e ledge of the sheet. A 4lpres's'ure padjor anvili! is disposed between the guide rriefrbersA 1 4, note particularly Fig. 6, said padbein'g's'ecured on the upper end of a plungeif`-4'l-" slidably' mounted a housing 42 against 'the 'resistance of ,aLspring' t3.V An adjusting'scw' fisfthreaded in thev lower end of tl'ihousing WandA isadapted to abut the vspring lan'd whereby 'the vertical position and also to so'me'ei'tentthe'cushioningactionoi the pad may be adjusted with rspect .to the s tone I5.V The tension ofthe sprin'gosfir should be such as to offer'enugh Vresistai'xce to depression of the anvil toensure a thorough grindwthoutburning the metal, and if properly'selected, shouldneed no adjustment a'sltotensiont This pressurepad or rivl in' Cosmetica with the .vertically and. arcuatelyadjust-ed grinding Ahead or stone 1 5 insures'. groundsurfaceoi smooth and uniform contourV devoid oi pits o r unground portions and with aniinimumpf manual attention. Y

'Td facilitate handling of' the spelers',V relis s and'll' are shownmountefd o nfthe front edgeof with the lower edge f'the grinding 'stone 15h/ the screws 39' being' 'a'.djusted to mobtaindthe proper angie of grindV while 'the handwheei setting adjusted to locate; the vertical lposition ofthe h'ead'with respect to the sheet'. In actual practice,

the 'pressure 'padD is adjusted tb a'point'where it is slightly' above the'l w'e'ai' vsi'fr'ip'portions of the guides i4," M. A sample piece of metal may kfirst binserted between'thegiindng wheel and anvil or pressure pad to 'gauge the exact'arc of contact of thegrinding wheel, 'which 'may' be 'btaind 'by adjusting the' screwsv 33.] 'I'hesample is then rethereof, the same may be tilted to a point where it will still carry on its grinding function until it Wears through the upper Wall.

It will be understood that the foregoing and 4other important advantages are inherent in the machina and that certain variations in construction and design o f parts may be adopted to obtain these Yadvantages Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dened by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for grinding the edges of metal sheets to condition the vlatter preparatory to welding or like operations, comprising a table, a substantially vertically disposed, Acup-shaped grinding stone located adjacent one side of the table, guides connected to the tablefor grinding the sheets `along the latter beneath the stone, said guides being interruptedadjacent the stone to provide aspace in which the stone rotates, an anvil disposed in said space beneath the stone, a plunger supporting said anvil, a housing havin g a bore receiving said plunger, a spring disposed in said bore for resiliently supporting the plunger and the anvil carried thereby, means for adjusting thel tension ofthespring to thereby f adjust the vertical position of theanvil, a motor for driving the stone, a bracket on which said stone and motor are mounted, kanother bracket on which said rst named bracket is mounted for vertical sliding movement, means for adjusting said rst namedbracket on said second named bracket to thereby adjust thervertical position ofk the stone with respect ,to the sheet to be ground, a support for said second named bracket, means connecting said support to the table, means mounting said second named bracket for arcuate adjustment on its support and whereby the grinding stonel may be adjusted arcuately in connection with its vertical adjustment to .definitely position the stone with respect to :the ,edge vof the sheetr and to also compensate for wear. on the stone.`

2. A machine for grinding the edges ormetal sheets to condition the latterfor welding `or like operations comprising a table, a grinding headof hollow cup-shaped form disposed above andjat one side vof the tableand slightly overlapping the edge of the table, guide members connected to the;l

edge of the tablsfopguidingfthe sheets' therealong beneath said stone, said guide members be-v ing interrupted adjacent the stone vto provide, a

' space beneath said stone, a resliently mounted anvil. Or Pressure, pad `rxinlriised said spesa@ bracket rotatably supporting said grinding. stone. a motor havnsdrvns; Connection ,with said stone, said motor being also arriedfby said bracket, another bracket supporting ,said `iirstmamed bracketA for vertical sliding adjustment,v said table; being Providedfwith outwardly projecting. surf. port and said second-namedbracket being ,mount-,1 ed for arcuate adjustment on ,saidlatter support,

and whereby the `grinding head may be tilted or adjusted arcuately with respect to the edge to be ground and at the same time be adjusted vertically with respect to said ed-ge.

3. A machine for grinding the edges of metal sheets to condition the latter for Welding and like operations, comprising a table having combined guides and wear strips connected to a side edge thereof, said guides and Wear strips being interrupted along their length to provide a grinding space, a pressure pad mounted for limited vertical movement in said space, means cushioning the action of said pressure pad, a grinding stone of deeply-dished cup-shaped contour disposed above said pad, a substantially vertically disposed shaft mounting said stone, a bracket member rotatably supporting said shaft, a motor for driving said stone, and means mounting said stone and motor for vertical and arcuate adjustment as a unit with respect to said pad.

4. A machine for grinding the edges of metal sheets to condition the same preparatory to welding and like operations, comprising means providing a supporting surface for the sheets to be ground, a substantially cup-shaped grinding stone disposed at least in part above said surface. a shaft mounting said stone, means for rotating said shaft, guide members connected to said surface, said guide members being interrupted to provide a space beneath said stone, a resiliently g mounted pressure pad located in said space, bearing means for said shaft mounted for vertical adjustment to thereby adjust the vertical operating position of the stone with respect to the sheet to be ground, and means supporting said bearing means from said table for arcuate movement with respect to the latter and whereby the angular position of the stone may be adjusted with respect to said sheet.

5. A machine for dressing the edges of metal sheets preparatory to welding and like operations, comprising a table having an open recess therein to accommodate one orV more operators, sheet guides connected to and projecting upwardly from the table, a hollow cup-shaped grinding stone, a substantially vertically extending shaft supporting said stone for rotary movement above said surface, a spring-mounted pressure pad disposed beneath said stone, means for adjusting the position of said pad with respect to said stone, a motor for driving said shaft, a vertically slidable member supporting said motor and grinding stone, another member providing a support for said first-named member, an adjusting screw connecting said first-named member to said secondnamed member for determining the vertical posiy tion of the stone, and means connecting said second-named member to said table for arcuate adjustment.

6. In a machine for grinding the edges of metal sheets to condition the latter preparatory to welding andlike operations, means providing a supporting surface for the sheets, said means having one or more recesses to accommodate one or more operators a resiliently mounted anvil located adjacent said surface and beneath the plane of travel of the sheets, a radially faced grinding stone disposed over said supporting surface means, and means for adjusting the vertical and arcuate position of said stone with respect to said support.

'7. A machine for grinding the edges of metal sheets to condition the latter for welding and like operations, comprising a support for work having one or more recesses to accommodate one or more operators, a pressure pad associated with said support and mounted for limited vertical movement, means cushioning the action of said pressure pad, a radially faced grinding stone disposed above said pad, a substantially vertically disposed shaft mounting said stone, a bracket member rotatably supporting said shaft, a motor for driving said stone, and means mounting said stone and motor for vertical and arcuate adjustment as a unit with respect to said support.

WILLIAM F. SPAHR.Y 

